Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 10.36.19
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesNārada Arranges Kṛṣṇa’s Coming to Mathurā
“But Nārada restrained Kaṁsa by reminding him that it was the two sons of Vasudeva who would cause his death. Kaṁsa then had Vasudeva and his wife shackled in iron chains.”
What the purport teaches
- Nārada restrained Kaṁsa by reminding him that Vasudeva’s sons would cause his death. Kaṁsa then shackled Vasudeva and his wife in iron chains.
- According to the ācāryas, Nārada warned that killing Vasudeva might cause the boys to flee. He advised Kaṁsa to bring Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma to Mathurā instead.
- Nārada was not acting against the great devotees Vasudeva and Devakī. Vasudeva was grateful because Nārada was arranging both Kaṁsa’s death at Kṛṣṇa’s hands and Kṛṣṇa’s presence in Mathurā, where His father could associate with Him.
Try this today
Write down the two reasons the purport gives for Vasudeva’s gratitude to Nārada.
Ask yourself
How does the purport change my first impression of Nārada’s actions?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
From Canto 10, chapter 14 onward, the translation and purports were completed by Śrīla Prabhupāda's disciples after his departure, and published by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.